Improvement in compounds for coating telegraph-wire



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK FIELD, OF UPPER MARSH, LAMBETH, AND RICHARD TALLING, OFLOSTWITHIEL, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPOUNDS FOR COATING TELEGRAPH-WIRE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent NO. 207,860, datedSeptember 10, 1878; application filed August 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FEEDERIoK FIELD, of Upper Marsh, Lambeth, in thecounty of Surrey, England, and RICHARD TALLING, 0f Lostwithiel,in thecounty of Cornwall, England, have invented an Improvement in thePreparation of Compounds of Ozocerite and India-Rubbcr for CoatingElectric-Telegraph WVires, and other purposes; and do hereby declarethat the following description forms a full and exact specification ofthe same, wherein we have set forth the nature and principles of oursaid improvement by which our invention may be distinguished from othersof a similar class, together with such parts as we claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patentthat is to say:

In the specification to English Letters Patent granted to AugustusMatthiessen on the 31st December, 1869, N 0. 3,7 7 S, was described aprocess for preparing insulating compounds by mixin g together a mineralknown as ozocerite, or the residue obtained by the partial distillationthereof with gutta-percha, india-rubber, balata, or other knowninsulatin g substances capable of incorporation with the said substance.The mixture was described in the specification as being produced byheating the substances together until their fusion is effected and thenincorporating them. It has been found that the said compounds soprepared become brittle, and are consequently useless as a coating forinsulating telegraphwires, and for other purposes where it is subject toflexure.

Now, our present invention consists in an improved mode of preparingcompounds of ozocerite or the residues thereof, and indiarubber, wherebythese are rendered permanently flexible and eminently applicable asinsulating materials.

According to our invention, instead of subjectin g the said substancesto fusion, we amalgamate the same by simply subjecting the ingredientstogether to a process of mastication by any known mechanical means, andwith or without the use of solvents, whereby they are thoroughlyincorporated and reduced to a plastic state, in which the compound canthen either be applied as a coating to telegraphwires or be rolled outin sheets, or made to assume other desired forms. The compound producedby either of the above processes remains perfectly pliable.

With the compound prepared as above described may be incorporated othersubstances, such as fibrous materials, mica, asbestus, as mentioned inthe said specification to Matthiessens patent above referred to.

For producing the compound without the aid of solvents, we masticate theingredients together by any known masticating, grinding, or rollingapparatus, such as is employed in the preparation of India-rubberand-gutta peroha, applying such moderate degree of warmth as isnecessary to give pliability to the ingredients while they areundergoing the mastication, but not such a degree of heat as wouldproduce fusion.

The compound of ozocerite and india-rubbcr may be vulcanized orsemi-cured in the same manner as india-rubber is usually treated forthat purpose.

Having thus described the nature of our invention, and in what mannerthe same is to be performed, we claim The permanently flexiblemechanical compound of India-rubber and ozocerite, or the residuumthereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses this 20th day of July, 1876.

FREDERICK FIELD. RICHARD TALLINC. Witnesses CHAS. D. ABEL, OLIVER IMRAY.

